Malachi 1:8 For when you offer blind animals as a sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer the lame and sick, is that not wrong as well? Indeed, try offering them to your governor! Will he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the Lord who rules over all.

Whenever I read this I thought it was talking about how the governor would reject a sacrifice that was lame or blind, but the NET Bible note explains that the phrase “offering” is more like choices on a menu at a sit-down feast. Would you offer a respected house guest some nasty meat for dinner? Of course not! That is what God is asking through Malachi.

This fits right in line with what John says in 1 John 4:20

1John 4:20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

If you aren’t going to treat God with the respect and honor that is due Him, AT LEAST show him the respect you would show a public official that would visit your house. On the flip side, if you can’t love somebody that is tangible and visible, don’t say that you love God, because your love for God will show in how you care for the people around you.

Malachi is basically saying, “You wouldn’t serve this garbage to a house guest, so why in the world do you think God wants it?”

That would be a great plaque to hang up over the door at a Goodwill. It’s one thing to give out a hand-me-down because you don’t need it and you don’t want it to go to waste. It’s entirely different to give out a broken item, call it an act of religious righteousness, and then go buy yourself a brand new one.

May we never think too highly of ourselves as we show our charity by donating a 3-wheeled stroller to the orphanage.